Zinpro Corporation Sponsors Young Scholar Recognition Program

Program sponsorship enabled three exceptional student scientists to present their research findings and be recognized with awards at the 2017 WSASAS meeting

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Sept. 14, 2017 – Zinpro Corporation recently sponsored an awards program that allowed three talented young scholars to present their research finding at the 2017 Western Section of the American Society of Animal Science (WSASAS) meeting held in Fargo, North Dakota, this summer. The three award-winners – Kendall Samuelson, Matthew Crouse and Kelsey Schubach – were honored at the 2017 Western Section Young Scholar Recognition Program, with each young scholar receiving a plaque and monetary award in addition to the opportunity to present their research findings at the meeting.

“This is a highly competitive award and a tremendous accomplishment for these young researchers, who have proven their ability to conduct research that is relevant to the animal science community,” explains Connie Larson, Ph.D., Research and Nutritional Services ruminant manager – North America, Zinpro Corporation. “Their research skills are very much in demand and valued by the animal production industry, and Zinpro proudly supports the program that recognizes their research.”

The WSASAS Young Scholar Recognition Program was established in 2013 to acknowledge the research accomplishments by doctoral and master’s degree students. The recognition program is also designed to increase participation in the WSASAS meetings by showcasing exceptional and contemporary research from talented, young scientists.

Doctoral Award Recipient

Dr. Kendall Samuelson, a native of northern California, completed her doctoral degree from New Mexico State University (NMSU) in December 2016, with a degree in animal science (ruminant nutrition) with a minor in biochemistry. Her research focused on nutritional strategies to improve feedlot cattle performance and on nutritional and management recommendations that could be integrated into the cattle feeding industry. During her time as a graduate student at NMSU, Dr. Samuelson presented her work in several graduate student research competitions, including the WSASAS annual meeting, the Animal and Range Sciences A. L. Neumann Competition, and the Plains Nutrition Council meeting, where she received two first-place and two second-place awards. She was selected as a Texas Cattle Feeders Association Scholar for the past three years, and was named Outstanding Graduate Assistant by the NMSU Graduate School in 2015. In 2016, she received the Dean’s Award of Leadership Excellence from NMSU.

Dr. Samuelson is currently a postdoctoral research associate with Texas A&M Agrilife in Amarillo, Texas. She has authored two peer-reviewed manuscripts and served as either an author or co-author on 17 other publications. She earned her bachelor’s degree in animal science from California State University and completed a master’s degree in animal science at Angelo State University.

Master’s Award Recipient

Matthew Crouse earned his master’s degree in animal science, ruminant nutrition emphasis, from North Dakota State University (NDSU) in December of 2016 and his bachelor’s degree in animal science with an equine emphasis and a minor in chemistry from NMSU in 2014. His master’s degree focused on the “Effects of maternal nutrition on fructose, glucose, and cationic amino acid transporter expression in bovine utero-placental tissues from days 16 to 50 of gestation.” In the WSASAS graduate student paper competition, he placed second in 2016 and third in 2015. He also placed third at the 2014 WSASAS undergraduate poster competition.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Crouse recently began his Ph.D. in animal science under the co-direction of Drs. Alison Ward and Joel Caton at NDSU, with an emphasis in nutritional and mechanistic aspects of development programming in beef cattle.

Master’s Award Recipient

Kelsey M. Schubach graduated with a master’s degree in animal science from Oregon State University (OSU) in September 2016, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science in 2014. During her master’s program, Schubach authored and co-authored five journal articles, two proceedings papers, and six professional meeting abstracts. Her accomplishments as a master’s student were not only restricted to research. In fact, she contributed significantly to all branches of the land-grant system: research, Extension, and teaching. Schubach assisted Dr. Reinaldo F. Cooke in his duties as statewide beef cattle specialist, including the Beef Forage Evaluation Program and Extension workshops. She also served as teaching assistant for undergraduate classes in the Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences during her program.

Following completion of her master’s degree, Schubach immediately started her doctoral program with Dr. Cooke. Her goal is to develop strategies that improve beef production systems and to work as a researcher and Extension specialist.

As the industry leader in trace mineral nutrition for livestock and poultry, Zinpro is committed to delivering the technical expertise, products and educational tools needed to help customers improve the performance and profitability of their operations.

Pictured left to right (or top to bottom for mobile devices): Dr. Kendall Samuelson, Matthew Crouse, Kelsey Schubach